LBR bill seals non-violent, weed-related federal crime records
This seems like a meritorious effort on the part of LBR, but there is a catch.
H.R. 2348 is modeled on a similar first-of-its-kind law enacted by Pennsylvania last year, which allows residents with nonviolent misdemeanor convictions to have their records sealed if they have stayed out of trouble for 10 years.
“The Clean Slate Act would ensure that people who pay their debt to society and stay on the straight and narrow can earn a second shot at a better life,” Blunt Rochester said in a statement. “If enacted, this legislation would make meaningful strides in filling the 7.1 million unfilled jobs in our country and improve the everyday lives of 100 million Americans who have past records.”
“Sealed” isn’t expunged, so the records are still there, and LBR is very transparent about the fact that she wants the government to be able to use those records against citizens, if need be.
A spokesperson for Blunt Rochester said there is a good reason the bill doesn’t call for a total erasure of the record. “We wanted the opportunity for law enforcement and Homeland Security to have access to the files and be able to see them in their entirety,” Kyle Morse said. “We wanted to assure them that they wouldn’t lose access.”
Another day, another impotent half measure that falls short of what is needed. Par for the course for LBR, but that don’t make it right.
Like me, you may have been suprised to learn that LBR is a liberal Democrat. Anything to fluff up a “triumph of bi-partisanship” story.
Sealed doesn’t mean expunged. However, sealed means not available to the public. Non Law enforcement will not even know the record is there. Getting a record unsealed may be ex-parte, but a judge is involved.
This particular change is meaningful. Currently, federal expungement is extremely limited. Currently, very few offenses qualify. Non-violent weed related crimes do not currently qualify. This bill provides the next best solution. Perfect and good are not enemies.
BTW, the real action is at the state level where the bulk of these crimes are prosecuted.
I think this is actually a reasonable measure that satisfies the concerns of many who would be against any form of mandatory expungement. The real problem is the public being able to see your record, not law enforcement. I think you’re just being petty as fuck and trying to find reasons to dislike LBR. This isn’t it though,